Vehicle carrying rail, in particular for high-speed suspended-vehicle railways



April 23, 19 29. gr-gug 1,710,437

VEHICLE CARRY RAIL, RTICULAR FOR HIGH SPEED SUSPENDED VEHICLE RAILWAYS Filed llay 16. 1928 Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

: UNITED." sT res;

cum STEDEFELD, or HEIDELBERG, GERMANY.

VEHICLE CARRYING RAIL, IN PARTICULAR ronnren-srnnn SUSPENDED-VEHICLE RA LWAYS.

Application filed May 1c, 1928, Serial No. 278,131, and in Germany October 24, 19 25.

The object ofthis invention is a {vehicle-e carrying rail arrangement which so holds the rail ends on the occurrence of a rail breakage that derailing 1s avolded. I/Vhen a rail breakoccurs it is possible for the two ends to move relatively aconsiderable distance both vertically and horizontally. I The invention has for its object such a constraint of the rail at any possible breakage that there can be no important difference in height between the broken rail ends: provision is also made to prevent relative lateral movement ofthe broken ends. The broken ends'are therefore held together at the break to a suflicient extent to allow the wheels of the vehicles to pass over the break without danger of derailment.

Though not confined thereto, the invention is particularly designed for use in suspended vehicle-railways operating at high speeds for example 300-500 km. per hour. In such high speed railways the weight of the rails must be kept low so as to obtain as smooth riding as possible." To avoid gaps, the rail joints are either welded or pressed together endwise by suitable means, so that the. gaps are completely closed. To reduce the weight,- the supports of the rails in suspended vehicle I railways are'arranged at greater intervals .than in standing railways, whererthe rails are borne on sleepers. When a rail breakage occurs in 'such a suspended high speed rails way, a considerable gap may be formed. The

free end on being run over by a wheel strikes the nndefiected end with a very violent blow. If. the rail ends are also relatively displaced,

laterally there is considerable risk of derailmont of the vehicle. I

In order to avoid the danger of derailment, according to the invention the rail itself is provided with the following features. The rail cross section is weakened at certain intervals, so that any breakage will occur at one of these weakened places. The course of the I breakage is defined by the shape, of this weaklaterally is eliecte'd by guide plates whichware ening in such a manner that a pin and socket effect is obtained which couples the rail ends vertically. Advantageously the weakening extends over the web'of the rail, but in some circumstances it can also extend over the head and foot. Holding of the rail ends'together laid on both sides of the rail web and held together by rivets, bolts or the like.

An example of such a railwhich can be used in a high speed suspended vehicle railway, is shown in the accompanying drawings.

In thedrawings, F ig. 1 is a front elevation of a section of a rail constructed in, accordsection.

As Figure 1 shows, on both sides of the web Z) of therail a at short distances apartand in similar positions, angle grooves c are rolled,

the vertices of which are at the centre of the weo and the limbs of whlch extend towards the rail head and foot. If now a break 00- curs in the rail a, for example at e, the line of breakage will follow the rolled grooves as T shown in the drawing. There is formed therefore apin-like web piece f which engages in an opposite socket-like recess of the other broken rail end, and any considerable relative vertical movement of the rail ends is prevented.

, Naturally the weakening grooves can be other than V shaped; for example they can be trapezium shaped, right angular or curved. It is further advantageous to provide holes cl at the ends and vertices of the weakening, grooves, since by this means the course of a possible breakage is more certainly predetermined.

- In order to prevent relative lateral movements of the broken rail ends, short guide plates are arranged next to one another in staggered formation on opposite sides of the rail and secured by rivets or bolts h. or in some other manner. The'securing holes in the web are preferably elongatedso that on the occurrence of a breakage a certain degree of longitudinal movement of the rail'web relative to the guide plates is possible.

Instead of rectangular, as in Figure 2, the

- guide plates 9 can have some other cross section. In Figure 3 a U-form cross section is shown for example. .If'these guide plates are arranged on the rail so that only a slight gap is left at .70, then in addition to an increased a moment of resistance of the guide strip with the same weight, a further security against relative vertical movements of the broken rail ends is provided.

I claim: 7 '1. A vehicle carrying rail, particularly for high-speed suspended vehicles, in which the web oftherail is weakened at intervals by a series of recesses so that any breakage of the rail will follow the line of weakening defined by the said recesses, said recesses being so.

on both sides of the Web by rivets, bolts or the like, in order to prevent relative lateral movement of the rail ends in the event of a break- 4. A vehicle carrying rail as defined in claim 1, in which guideplates are secured on both sides of the Web by, rivets, bolts or-the like, in order to prevent relative lateral inovee inent oi the rail ends in the event of a'breale age, and in Which said guide plates extend 1 I L close up to the rail head and toot so that they also l mit the possible relative vertical movement of the broken rail ends.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

CURT STEDEFELD. 

